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Anybody Who Thinks Orbital Data Centers are a Good Idea Is Suffering from AI Psychosis, Experts Argue (tech.yahoo.com)
submitted 1 month ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[+] -24 points 1 month ago (3 children)

That's what the lasers are for. It's a solved problem.

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  • [–] 31 points 1 month ago

    Not really, because it can't be solved, just worked around.

    Lasers are still subject to the inverse square law, but with a slightly different multiplier.

    Also, lasers still have the bandwidth issue of not being able to double up the communication lines due to cross talk and other fun physics issues.

    There's a reason why fiber will never go out of style.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    If it was a solved problem it would be widely used, but it isn't. Ever looked at the reports of starlink speeds? It's not reliable at all, everything other than a fully clear sky with cold weather (meaning less moisture and particles in the air) affects the communication. It physically can't be a good or better alternative to fiber (or anything else that isn't wireless).

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago

    Yeah... Terrestrial 5G towers with a fiber backbone for some proportion of them... are... stupendously more cost effective at getting a decent level of internet to a lot of people.

    Also doesn't cause Kessler Syndrome, which is, you know, good.

    Now, such a system will still suffer in more abberant atmospheric conditons, but to a far lesser extent.

    Literally the only actual 'use case' I can think of where StarLink 'makes sense' as a better solution is ... you are a boat that is actually moving most of the time.

    If you're a house boat... terrestrial 5G probably exists near your mooring.

    Either that or you truly, truly live far away from civilization.

    ... but we already had satellite internet that did those things.

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